MANNA, 263 
It is, however, liable to great abuses. The larger 
masses, in particular, are frequently an artificial com- 
position, skilfully incrusted with a coat of myrrh. 
DICECIA. 
275. MANNA is a concrete or dried juice, procured from several 
species of ash-tree, but particularly from the FLOWERING ASH 
(Fraxinus ornus, Fig. 76), which is much cultivated in Calabria 
and Sicily. 
This tree somewhat resembles the common ash. It has winged 
leaves, with an odd one at the end, the leaflets oblong, pointed, ser- 
rated, and veined, standing on footstalks, and of bright green colour. 
The flowers are whitish, and appear in close bunches, about the 
month of May or June. 
The trees that are cultivated for the production of 
manna are chiefly planted on the eastern sides of hills. 
This substance exudes spontaneously from them ; but 
as the supply thus obtained would be insufficient for 
the demand, incisions are made in the bark to obtain it 
more copiously. These incisions are formed, in the 
summer time, lengthwise in the tree, and each about a 
span long. They are begun at the lower part of the 
trunk, and repeated upward, at a little distance from 
each other, as high as the branches. One side of the 
tree is first cut ; the other side being reserved until the 
ensuing year, when it undergoes a similar treatment. 
From the wounds thus made a thick whitish juice im- 
mediately begins to flow, which gradually hardens on 
the bark, and in the course of a few days acquires a 
sufficient consistence to be taken off. It is collected in 
baskets, and afterwards packed in chests or boxes. 
Sometimes the manna flows in such abundance that it 
runs upon the ground, and thus becomes mixed with 
various impurities, unless it be prevented, as is some- 
times the case, by placing for its reception large leaves, 
stones, chips of wood, or straw. The collecting of 
manna generally terminates about the end of Sep- 
tember. 
This substance is known by druggists under dif- 
